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2009 Calendar of
Events
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It
is not necessary to
contact the trip leader in advance of a trip, but leader's e-mail is
shown in case you need directions or other information. New
participants are welcome - membership is not required to participate in
field trips.
Please read guidelines for
meetings and trips.
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Saturday January 3, 2009
Field Trip |
Eastern
Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Start
the 2009 birding year with a trip to a National Wildlife Refuge,
located in Kent
County,
our immediate neighbor to the south. This location offers a
mix of open fields, woodlands, and access to the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Most abundant birdlife at
this time of year will be ducks, geese and swans, perhaps with a few
loons and grebes and coots. Also expect a good variety of
sparrows. Eagles should be easily visible. Excellent
birding in a quiet setting with no crowds or
distractions.
Meet
near the Dunkin' Donuts at the Big Elk Mall (Rtes. 40 and 213).
Meet at 7:00 am for a Full Day
trip.
Bring lunch
and snacks - there are few opportunities to purchase food in the
vicinity. Dress for extreme cold and possible wind. Bring
scope if you have one. Easy walking on level ground.
Trip Leader: Parke John parke@del.net
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Wednesday
January 14, 2009
Club Meeting with presentation |
Club
Meeting and Presentation by Tom Congersky
Cecil/Harford member Tom Congersky will
give a slide show and talk on "Birds of South Texas." If
you have not birded this avian hotspot, this is a good way to learn
about the speciality birds of the area. And if you have visited
South Texas, this will be a good reminder of how great the birding can
be!
Location:
lower level of Wesley
United
Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
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Saturday
January 17, 2009
Field Trip
|
Ocean City Area & Beyond
A
classic trip to THE prime Maryland
winter birding hotspot. Click here
for a taste of what Ocean
City has
to offer. The Ocean
City inlet
hosts a unequaled variety of
wintering ducks, possibly including
all three scoters, Long-tailed (formerly known as Oldsquaw), Harlequin,
mergansers, and maybe even an eider or two. Add to that
Red-throated and Common Loons, a grebe or two, Great Cormorant,
Northern Gannet, Purple Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, and possibilities
of rare gulls or a Razorbill or Murre. Over at the 4th
St mudflats, there could be some lingering
shorebirds, and Brant should be
about. The ponds in the vicinity should hold an assortment of
Canvasback, Redhead, Wigeon, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Ruddy, Teal, Shoveler
– a great chance for good views to study the plumages at the time of
year when their colors are brightest. Depending on locations
visited, there could also be good opportunities for wintering sparrows
– maybe even a rarity like LeConte’s.
Meet near Dunkin' Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 6:00 am for a Full Day trip. Bring
breakfast, lunch and snack, or money to buy take-out food on the
way.
Dress for extreme cold and wind. Bring scope if you have
one. Easy walking on level ground.
Trip Leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
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Saturday
January 31 2009
Field Trip |
Cecil
Gulls
Learn
to identify the different age classes of gulls with gull expert Gene
Scarpulla. Gene will show us how to pick out the rare gulls from
the flocks of usual suspects, which include Great Black-backed,
Herring, Ring-billed, and Bonaparte's.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. near the Walmart at North East Plaza interesection of
Rtes. 272 and 40. We
will carpool to our gull watching location from there - there is
limited parking. Be prepared to leave your car or
offer a ride to others.
Bring scope if you
have one. Dress for extreme cold and/or wind and be prepared for
walking and then standing
still while we scan the flocks. Be aware that walking will be over rough ground, with possible muddy conditions, and
possibly up steep slopes.
Bring money for an optional thaw-out lunch at one
of the seafood restaurants in NorthEast.
Trip Leader: Gene Scarpulla ejscarp@comcast.net
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Saturday February 7, 2009
Field Trip |
Winter at Fair Hill
A brisk morning walk at Fair
Hill Natural Resources Management Area, in the northeastern
part of Cecil
County,
is just the antidote for the mid-winter blahs. Fair Hill in
winter is a prime birding site, with the bare trees making for easy
viewing of kinglets and kingfishers, woodpeckers and Wood Ducks,
and little brown jobs galore.
Meet at the Covered Bridge Parking Lot in Fair Hill. Use the Fair
Hill entrance on Rt 316 north of Rt 273, and go about 2 miles from the
parking lot directly into Fair Hill. The lane will take you
directly to the parking lot by the Covered Bridge. Meet at
8:00
am for a ½ Day trip. Dress for cold
weather and
walking. Warm waterproof shoes or boots desirable. Scope
not needed.
Parking fee
or
annual State
Park Pass required. Honor
System in use; bring small
bills to pay fee ( $3 Maryland
residents; $4 out-of-state
visitors).
Trip
leader: Richard Donham donhamr@zoominternet.net
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Saturday
February 14, 2009
Bird Count
|
Mid-Winter Bird Count
Celebrate
Valentine's Day with a full
day census of all birds in Cecil County.
You can count in your choice of locations in the county, if you contact
the compiler for assignment early. Count for Full Day or as much as you
can. Count alone or ask your special someone, friends and family
to join you, or
ask compiler to pair you with an experienced counter. Feeder
watchers or single locations also welcome - count in your own backyard
or at your favorite birding hangout. Start as early as you can
and count as late as you can. Help us document the birds that
depend on our county to survive the winter.
Must contact compiler Sean McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
ahead of time for assignment to an area and for reporting forms and
instructions.
________________________________________________
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Wednesday
February 11, 2009
Club Meeting with presentation
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Club
Meeting: Business meeting and presetnation by Phil Davis: "Bird the Bering Sea"
Phil Davis has many years of experience
leading bird tours to Alaska for High Lonesome BirdTours. Phil will entertain us
with stories of bird-finding in thie challenging conditions of Alaska's
Bering Sea coastline and islands, illustrated with slides showing the
beauty of the region and its special bird species. Besides
serving as a High Lonesome tour leader, Phil is also the Secretary of
the MD and DC Bird Records Committee of MOS, and has an extensive
knowledge of bird populations, taxonomy and identification of rare
species.
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
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Friday
- Monday February 13-16, 2009
Bird Count
|
12th
Annual Great
Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event co-sponsored
by Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. They are
asking MOS members - that's us - to participate. The count engages bird
watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot
of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate,
from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15
minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
To participate:
1. Plan to
count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 13–16, 2009.
Count
birds at as many places and on as many days as you like—just keep a
separate list of counts for each day and/or location.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of
each species that you see together at any one time, and write it down.
3.
Enter
your results on the Great Backyard Bird
Count web site, http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/
More
details and instructions are available at the website.
In 2008, participants
reported
a
new record of more than 9 million
birds of
635 species. They submitted more than 85,725 checklists, a record
high. Join the crowd
and
count in
your backyard.
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Saturday February 21, 2009
Field Trip
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Hardcore
Owling
Our own Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless will lead our dauntless group on a
quest for a winter owl Grand Slam - a good way to learn techniques and
places for finding owls in winter. Usual suspects are Great
Horned, Barred, and Screech. Saw-whet, Short-eared, Long-eared
and Snowy are possible bonuses. Barn is a
long-shot.
Meet near Dunkin Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 4:00 am! (This is
not
a
typo – the trip starts at Four O'dark in the morning). Trip will
continue 'til we drop or until we find eight owl species -
whichever comes first! Bring scope if you have one. Dress
for extreme cold and walking. Bring ample food and snacks or
money to buy en route.
Trip Leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
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Wednesday March
11, 2009
Club Meeting with Presentation |
Club
Meeting
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net |
Saturday
March 21, 2009
Field Trip |
Blackwater & Beyond
This trip is designed to
see large numbers of waterfowl during the height of spring staging
season, at Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County.
Bald Eagles are a bonus feature. Ospreys may be newly arrived
and if so, will be setting up territories. Some early shorebirds
might be on the
move. Come take advantage of the peaceful Eastern
Shore
ambiance before the tourist season sets in.
Meet at the parking lot of Blackwater
Headquarters at 9:00 am
for a Full Day trip. See the Blackwater NWR website for
directions. Bring breakfast, lunch and snacks -
there are few opportunities to purchase food in the vicinity.
Dress for possible extreme cold and wind. Bring scope if you have
one. Some easy walking on level ground.
Trip
leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
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Wednesday
April 8, 2009
Club Meeting with presentation |
Club
Meeting
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way .
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________ |
Saturday
April 11, 2009
Field Trip
|
Conowingo
Wildflowers and Birds
The Wildflower Trail at Conowingo goes
south from
Fisherman's Park along the bank of the Susquehanna, through wooded
wetlands and along the base of cliffs that are, at this season,
blanketed with Dutchman's Breeches, Virginia Bluebells, and other
spring wildflowers. It's still a little early for spring migrant
birds, but we'll see if some winter visitors, like Winter Wren, are
still lingering on the riverbank. We'll also spend some time
scoping the waters below the dam to see what's about - maybe a Little
Gull, if we're lucky.
Meet at Fisherman's Park at Conowingo Dam at 7:00 am for a ½
Day trip. Bring scope if you have
one. Wear sturdy footwear
for walking trails that may be muddy. Easy walking on a level,
well-graded trail.
Trip leader: Ken Drier kdrier@zoominternet.net
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Saturday
April 18, 2009
Field Trip |
Birding North East
and Elkton Town
Parks
Amble around two town parks that offer spectacular habitat for
birds. North East Town Park
features lots of water - it is located where the North East River
broadens to become a major estuary of the Chesapeake
Bay
. Specialty birds here in June should be Osprey,
Fish Crow, both orioles, kingfisher, and a variety of swallows and
terns. Meadow
Park in
Elkton also features water, in several
forms: the Big Elk Creek
flows through the park, there is a system of manmade ponds (originally
built as fish hatcheries), and to top it off, there is a freshwater
marsh. Possible birds include herons and egrets, kingfisher,
swallows, and maybe
even some early migrant warblers, vireos,
and flycatchers. Good walking
conditions
on mostly level ground.
Meet at North East Town Park, at the end of Walnut Street in North
East, at 7:00 a.m. for a ½ day trip. Wear sturdy shoes or
boots for walking. Bring scope if you have one.
Trip
leader: Richard Donham donhamr@zoominternet.net
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Saturday
April 25, 2009
Field Trip
|
Spring at Fair
Hill
Part of our "Seasons at Fair Hill" series. Spring at Fair Hill
means migrants: we'll be looking for early warblers, vireos,
flycatchers, and sparrows. Of course,
the scenery at Fair HIll can't be beat - lush woods, rolling hills,
extensive hayfields, crystal clear streams. Be prepared for a
longish hike over trails that are narrow and may be steep and
muddy in places.
Meet at the Covered Bridge Parking Lot at Fair Hill 8:00 a.m. for a
½ day trip. From Rt 273, go north on Rt 316 (Appleton
Rd )
for about one mile and then enter Fair Hill at Black
Bridge Rd on the left.
Follow this gravel road for about 2 miles to the Covered Bridge Parking
lot. Wear good shoes or boots
for walking. May be muddy.
Parking fee or
annual State
Park Pass required. Honor
System in use; bring small
bills to pay fee ( $3 Maryland
residents; $4 out-of-state visitors).
Trip
leader: Meta Little meta368@JUNO.COM
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Saturday
May 9, 2009
Bird Count
|
Spring Count
Assist
the Cecil Bird Club as we participate in the annual, continent-wide International Migratory Bird Day.
This important census attempts to document all the birds that are in North America
at the height of spring
migration.
We aim for a full day census of all birds in Cecil County.
You can count in your choice of locations in the county, if you contact
the compiler for assignment early. Count for Full Day or as much as you
can. Count alone or ask your friends and family to join you, or
ask compiler to pair you with an experienced counter. Feeder
watchers or single locations also welcome - count in your own backyard
or at your favorite birding hangout. Start as early as you can
and count as late as you can. Help us document the birds that
depend on our county to survive the winter.
Must contact compiler (to be named) ahead of time for assignment
to an area and for reporting forms and
instructions.
________________________________________________
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Wednesday May
13, 2009
Club Meeting with Presentation
|
Club
Meeting
Location:
lower level of Wesley
United
Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way .
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
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Friday
thr Sunday
May 15 - 17, 2009
Conference |
MOS Annual Conference,
Frederick County, MD
Join
your fellow birders from across the State of Maryland for the MOS
Annual Conference, featuring field trips, workshops, social events,
business meeting, and special guest speaker for the gala banquet. The
Conference this year is timed to coincide with the height of spring
migration and field trips should be lively. Field
trips will cover Frederick County and beyond, including the C&O
Canal (always a migration hotspot), Lilypons Water Gardens, and the
Frederick watershed in the Catoctin mountains. Special guest Jim
Rising, renowned sparrow expert, will offer a Friday afternoon workshop
on sparrows, with practice session field trip on Saturday. Wil
Herschberger will lead a photography field trip. All-day Lister's
Trips will blanket Frederick, Washington, and Carroll Counties.
The
evening dinner speaker will be Professor Doug Tallamy from the
University of Delaware, the author of the recently published book
Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants
Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens . Doug will speak
about gardening practices that can assist birds and other wildlife.
Volunteers
are needed to assist with all aspects of the Conference, inlcuding
registration, leading field trips and helping with the silent
auction.
Registration forms will be mailed
to MOS
members in January. See the Jan/Feb '09 Maryland
Yellowthroat or MOS
Website for details.
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Saturday
May 16, 2009
Field Trip |
Woodlawn
Wildlife Area
Woodlawn
is located in western Cecil
County
and
is a restored landfill. The
Cecil Bird Club is partnering
with Woodlawn to promote use of the area for birding and nature
observation. Join us for a leisurely stroll around the fields and
woods of this re-awakening natural area.
Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Woodlawn Parking Area for a ½ day
nature
walk. Directions below.
From I-95, take the Perryville, Rtes 275/222 exit north. Follow 275/222
north a few miles to Rte 276. Turn right, follow about 1 mile, turn
left on Firetower Rd. Preserve (with parking lot) is on the left, just
after the intersection with Waibel Rd.
From Port Deposit, take MD-276 ( Tome
Highway ) towards Rising
Sun. Take a left onto Firetower
Road (past the Mobil
station and across from the Land Hope Farms store). Less than a
mile later, you will pass the entrance to the county transfer/recycling
center. Immediately after the center’s entrance, The Woodlawn
Wildlife Area gate is on the left.
From Rising Sun, take Rt 276 (Tome Highway) south to Rt 269, Barnes
Corner Road, Turn right (west) onto Barnes Corner and then right
at the first intersection onto Harrisville Rd, which becomes Firetower
Rd at the West Nottingham Academy gate. Continue south on Firetower
Rd to the entrance to the Wildlife Area,
just past the intersection of Colora Rd on the right.
Leader: Richard Donham; contact Richard for more information at donhamr@zoominternet.net
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Saturday
May 23, 2009
Field Trip |
Delaware Bay Shorebird Migration
Join Trip Leader Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless for a Full Day tour of the
best shorebird spots on the Delaware Bayshore. The trip is timed
to coincide with the peak of shorebird migration, and the various
refuges along the Delaware River and Bay present a spectacle of
thousands of shorebirds - a sight (and sound) not to be missed.
Meet near Dunkin Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 8:00 am for a ½ day trip. Be prepared to car pool. Bring
lunch, snacks and drink and a scope if you have one. Wear sturdy
shoes, for possible muddy conditions.
Trip
leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
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Sunday
May 24, 2009
Field Trip |
Elk
Neck State Forest
Traverse the quiet wooded lanes of one of Cecil's prime birding gems, Elk
Neck State Forest, with our own Parke John. Parke
knows the State
Forest
as
well as he knows his own
backyard. At this time of year, the Forest
is starting to ring with the songs of
newly arrived summer residents: Veery, Wood
Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Worm-Eating Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler,
Great Crested Flycatcher, and other goodies. The Forest is also a
great place to search for migrating thrushes, flycatchers, vireos and
warblers. There have been 17-warblers days in the Forest!
Meet at 7:00 a.m at the State
Forest
office
parking
lot off Irishtown Rd.
for a ½
Day Trip. From the town of North East , go
south on Rt 272 and when you reach the south edge of town, turn left
onto Irishtown Rd.
Follow Irishtown
Road to the forest entrance at the dirt
road
on the left, just past Timberlane
Drive on the right. Park near
the
maintenance building on the
left just after the entrance. Wear good
shoes or boots for walking.
Trip Leader: Parke John parke@del.net
________________________________________________ |
Sunday
May 31, 2009
Field Trip
(NEW DATE
FOR THIS TRIP)
|
Cecil Spring Hot Spots
Join trip leader Marcia Watson on
a tour through some of the best Cecil locations for late migrants
and breeding birds. Target birds are shorebirds and songbirds,
including
warblers and vireos. We will practice our birding-by-ear skills with
the songbirds. Trip locations will vary depending on scouting but will
include a variety of wetlands, forest, and fields.
Meet
near
Dunkin Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 8:00 am for a ½ day trip. Bring
snackand drink. Expect a lot of walking and wear sturdy shoes,
for possible muddy conditions.
Trip
Leader: Marcia Watson mww@udel.edu
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
June
13, 2009
DATE
CHANGED TO JULY 25
Kayak Trip
|
Birding by
Kayak
Explore the waters of the Elkton marshes with Sean McCandless.
This is
a good way to search for rails and shorebirds as well as terns during
the high point of the nesting season.
Meet at the Elk River Park Boat Ramp (Brownie's Shore), off Old Field
Point Road, at 7:00 am for a ½
Day Trip. Bring your own kayak and paddle. Also, of course,
bring and wear a life preserver.
Trip
leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
July 18, 2009
Field Trip
|
Summer
Season at Fair
Hill
Part of our "Seasons at Fair Hill" series. Summer at Fair Hill
means specialty breeding birds: Scarlet Tanager, Veery, Wood
Thrush, Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean
Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Bobolinks, and more! Of course,
the scenery at Fair Hill can't be beat - lush woods, rolling hills,
extensive hayfields, crystal clear streams. Be prepared for a
longish hike over trails that are narrow and may be steep and
muddy in places.
Meet at the Covered Bridge Parking Lot at Fair Hill at 8:00 a.m. for a
½ day trip. From Rt 273, go north on Rt 316 (Appleton
Rd)
for about one mile and then enter Fair Hill at Black
Bridge Rd on the left.
Follow this gravel road for about 2 miles to the Covered Bridge Parking
lot.
Parking fee required; Honor System in
use; bring small
bills to pay fee ($3 Maryland
residents; $4 out-of-state
visitors). Wear good shoes or boots
for walking.
Trip
leader: Richard Donham donhamr@zoominternet.net
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
July 25, 2009
NEW DATE
Field Trip |
Birding by
Kayak
Explore the waters of the Elkton marshes with Sean McCandless.
This is
a good way to search for rails and shorebirds as well as terns during
the high point of the nesting season.
Meet at the Elk River Park Boat Ramp (Brownie's Shore), off Old Field
Point Road, at 7:00 am for a ½
Day Trip. Bring your own kayak and paddle. Also, of course,
bring and wear a life preserver.
Trip
leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________ |
Saturday
September 5, 2009
Field Trip |
Turkey
Point Migrants and Hawk Watch
Kickoff
Join us for the traditional kick-off to the
annual Turkey
Point Hawk Watch, which runs every day from Labor Day weekend
through Thanksgiving. Plus, a walk through the woods and fields
for migrant songbirds. Be prepared for a round-trip hike to the
Point, a distance of about two miles. The pace will be leisurely. Most
of the walking is on a gravel road with good footing, but there are
hilly sections. Wear comfortable shoes/boots for walking.
Bring drinks and/or snacks.
Meet at the Turkey Point Parking Lot at 7:00 a.m. for a ½ day
trip.
From the town of North
East,
go south on Rt. 272 about 11 miles. The road ends at the parking
lot.
Trip leader: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
|
Wednesday
September 9, 2009
Club Meeting
|
Club
Meeting
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
September 19, 2009
Field Trip
|
Fall
Season at Fair
Hill
Part of our "Seasons at Fair Hill" series. Fall at Fair Hill
means migrating birds. Our walk will take us through the woods,
stream valleys and fields in search of migrant warblers, flycatchers,
vireos, and more. Of course, the scenery at Fair HIll can't be
beat - lush woods, rolling hills, extensive hayfields, crystal clear
streams. Be prepared for a longish hike over trails that are
narrow and may be steep and muddy in places.
Meet at the Covered Bridge Parking Lot at Fair Hill at 8 a.m. for a
½ day trip. From Rt 273, go north on Rt 316 (Appleton
Rd)
for about one mile and then enter Fair Hill at Black
Bridge Rd on the left.
Follow this gravel road for about 2 miles to the Covered Bridge Parking
lot.
Parking fee required; Honor System in
use; bring small
bills to pay fee ($3 Maryland
residents; $4 out-of-state
visitors). Wear good shoes or boots
for walking.
Trip
leader: Ken
Drier kdrier@zoominternet.net
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
September 26, 2009
Field Trip
|
Cape May: Hawks or Hawk Food
Car-pool with fellow club members for any
easy
2-hour drive to Cape May, New Jersey, one of the nation's premier fall
hawk watch sites. Spend some time on the hawk watch platform with
the best in the hawk id business. Enjoy the thrill of being
buzzed by a Merlin or even better, a Peregrine.
And when you get tired of watching hawks, step onto the Boardwalk Trail
for a look at some of the things the hawks are eating.
Meet near Dunkin Donuts
in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 7:00 am for a Full Day trip. Bring
breakfast, lunch and snack, or money to buy take-out food on the
way.
Dress for a long day in the sun. Pack plenty of sunscreen.
Bring scope if you have
one. Easy walking on level ground.
Trip Leader: leader needed
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Saturday
October 10, 2009
Field Trip |
Turkey
Point Migrants and Hawk Watch
A walk through the woods and fields for
migrant
songbirds, plus a stop at the Hawk Watch
station to see what is flying. Be prepared for a round-trip hike
to the Point, a distance of about two miles. The pace will be
leisurely. Most of the walking is on a gravel road with good footing,
but there are hilly sections. Wear comfortable shoes/boots for
walking. Bring drinks and/or snacks.
Meet at the Turkey Point Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m. for a ½ day
trip.
From the town of North
East,
go south on Rt. 272 about 11 miles. The road ends at the parking
lot.
Trip
Leader: Leslie Fisher gonbrdn@dol.net
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|
Sunday
October 11,
2009
Bird Count
|
Turkey Pointers BIG
SIT! Birding's Most Sedentary Event
Cecil Bird Club will be participating in the 15th Annual BIG SIT!, an
annual,
international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher's
Digest and founded by the New Haven (CT) Bird Club. THE BIG SIT! is
like a Big Day, or a bird-a-thon in that the object is to tally as many
bird species as can be seen or heard within 24 hours. The difference
lies in the area limitation from which you can observe. All
counting is done from inside a real or imaginary circle 17 feet in
diameter. Counters sit inside the circle for 24 hours, counting all the
bird species seen or heard.
Our
BIG SIT! count circle will be based at the big Cedar Tree near the
Lighthouse at Turkey Point. Chris Starling
will be our official counters. In 2008, the Turkey Pointers Circle
reported the highest number of species among the six Maryland BIG SIT!
circles,
with 82 species; this was also one of the highest totals reported
nationally. Can we do it again? All are welcome to join the
Turkey Point BIG SIT! circle, so pack some food and drink and come out
out to join us. Chris will start at 4:30 a.m.; you
can come whenever you like and stay for as long as you like.
Hint: if you have any any goodies you to share, you might
want to pack some extras for our stalwart BIG SIT! counters,
to keep their spirits up for the long haul.
It
is not necessary to contact the leader before this event, just come on
out any time during the day. For more basic BIG SIT! Information,
please visit http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/bigsit.aspx
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|
Wednesday
October 14, 2009
Club
Meeting |
Club
Meeting
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________ |
Saturday
October 24, 2009
Field Trip
|
Buteos
at the Turkey
Point Hawk
Watch
A walk through the woods and fields will
bring
you to the Hawk
Watch station to see if buteos are flying. These big
birds -
Red-taileds and Red-shouldereds - are a thrilling site as they gather
in kettles to ride the thermals up and out of sight. Learn to
tell the difference between immature and adult plumages of the buteos,
or to id a bird that is a mere speck in the sky. Be prepared for
a round-trip hike
to the Point, a distance of about two miles. The pace will be
leisurely. Most of the walking is on a gravel road with good footing,
but there are hilly sections. Wear comfortable shoes/boots for
walking. Bring drinks and/or snacks.
Meet at the Turkey Point Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m. for a ½ day
trip.
From the town of North
East,
go south on Rt. 272 about 11 miles. The road ends at the parking
lot.
Trip Leader: Sean
"Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________ |
Wednesday November 11, 2009
Club Meeting with Presentation
|
Club
Meeting
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
|
Saturday
November 14, 2009
Field Trip |
Avalon
Sea Watch
Join us for a car-pool trip to Avalon, New Jersey (about two hours
away). The shoreside town of Avalon
is on a barrier island, at a point where the shoreline bulges outward
into the Atlantic
- and therefore, it
is possible to get fantastic looks at a steady stream of migrating
seabirds. The New Jersey
Audubon Society conduct an annual census of these birds. The
majority of birds seen are loons and seaducks - all three scoters,
mergansers, Long-taileds, maybe an eider or two. Other
possibilities include jaegers and gannets and maybe a few surprises. The
daily count of birds passing the Sea Watch can reach up to 90,000
at this time of year - it is one of the true avian spectacles.
This is a great opportunity to plump up your Life List with seabirds,
from the comfort of land.
This trip involves no walking at all. Pull your car up to the
seawall at the Sea
Watch site and take out your lawn chair, blanket, scope and hot
drink, and settle in for a day of scanning the seas.
Meet
near Dunkin Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt 213 in
Elkton at 7:00 a.m. to car-pool for the full-day trip.
Bring
scope if you have one. Also bring lawn chair, blanket, hot
drinks, and either a packed lunch or money to purchase lunch at a
nearby deli. Dress for possible extreme cold and windy
conditions. Also bring money for tolls and gas.
Trip leader: Richard Donham donhamr@zoominternet.net
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|
Saturday
November 28, 2009
Field Trip |
Eagle Watch
at Conowingo
Dam
Conowingo Dam
is one of the premier eagle watching sites in the east. Some
eagles breed near Conowingo and are present all year round, but the
number of individuals peaks in the winter. The reason: the
water flowing through the dam's turbines remains unfrozen all winter
long, and so the fishing is good and the living is easy. Eagles
start moving in from more northerly areas in November and stay until
January or February. It is normally possible to see as many as 40
individuals at one time, sitting on the rocks and perched in the
trees, but in winter of 2008-2009, daily totals approached 175.
In addition to eagles, there could be other birds of
interest, particularly gulls and ducks.
Meet at Fisherman's Park below the Dam at 9:00 a.m. for a ½ day
trip. From Rising Sun, take Rt 273 west to the intersection of Rt
1. Continue on Rt 1 south/west and go over the Dam. Make the
first left onto Shuresville
Rd , and then the first left again, onto Shures Landing Road .
This road will bring you down to the riverbank and Fisherman's
Park.
Bring scope if you have one. Optional: lawn chair, blanket,
hot drinks, and snacks. Dress for possible extreme cold and windy
conditions.
Trip leaders: Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
and Charlie "Eagle Eye" Gant
________________________________________________
|
Sunday
December 6, 2009
Field Trip |
Cecil
Waterfowl
The waters at the head of the Chesapeake
Bay annually play host to a wide variety of wintering
waterfowl that are generally easy to see, up close and personal.
Expected species include Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, Green-winged Teal,
Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon,
Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, both Scaup, Bufflehead, Black
Duck, Hooded Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. Also Pie-billed
Grebe, American Coot, Common Loon, and maybe a few surprises.
Gulls will
also be about. Exact sites visted will depend on conditions at
the time (mainly ice and wind).
Meet near Dunkin Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt 40 and Rt
213 in Elkton at 9:00 a.m. to car-pool for the ½ day
trip. Bring scope if you have one. Dress for possible
extreme cold and windy conditions.
Trip Leader: Marcia Watson mww@udel.edu
________________________________________________
|
Wednesday
December 9 2009
Club Meeting
|
Club
Meeting: Business meeting and general social
Location: lower level of Wesley United Methodist
Church,
Old
Chestnut Road and Justice Way.
Directions: From Rt 40, go south on Old Elk Neck Road for
about 3.3 miles, and turn left at Old Chestnut Road. Just past a
woodlot on the left, make the first left onto Justice
Way, and the church will
be on your left. Go around to the right side of the building to the
basement entry door.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information,
contact President Sean "Bird Dog" McCandless seanmccandless1@comcast.net
________________________________________________
|
Sunday
December 20, 2009
Bird Count
|
Elkton
Christmas Bird
Count
Full day census of all birds in a circle of 7.5 mi radius centered on
Black Hill on Elk Neck. You can count in your choice of locations in
the count circle, if you contact the compiler early. Count for
Full Day or as much as you can. Feeder watchers also welcome -
count in your own backyard, if you are located within the count circle.
Tally Rally at Woody's in NorthEast at 4 pm
.
Must contact compiler Laura Balascio avocet@udel.edu
ahead of time for assignment to an area and
for
reporting forms and instructions.
________________________________________________
|
Sunday
December 27,
2009
Bird Count
|
Rock Run Christmas Count
Full day census of all birds in a circle of 7.5 mi radius centered on
Rock Run Mill opposite Port Deposit - count circle includes portions of
Cecil
County
along the Susquehanna, from above Rt 1 and the Conowingo
Dam south to Perryville. You can count in your choice of
locations in the count
circle, if you contact the compiler early. To view the boundaries of
the count circle, go to Google Maps at
www.maps.google.com and search for
"Rock Run Christmas Bird Count MD." Count for full day or as much as
you can.
Must contact compiler Jean Wheeler jswheeler44@msn.com
ahead of time for assignment to an area and
for
reporting forms and instructions.
________________________________________________
|
|
For
other Christmas Counts to be conducted this season in Maryland ,
please visit the Christmas Count page of the MOS website at http://www.mdbirds.org/counts/xmas/xmas.html
________________________________________________
|
|
|
| Trip and
Meeting Participation
Guidelines |
- All
events are free and open to the
public, unless otherwise indicated (some destinations have an admission
fee or will require payment of road/bridge toll).
- Due
to limited parking, reservations
may be necessary for some field trips, and car pooling is always
encouraged.
- It
is a courtesy to contact the trip
leader (shown in the last column) if you are planning to attend a field
trip.
- Please
try to arrive at the field trip
meeting place ten to fifteen minutes before the stated time to ensure
you are not left behind.
- Trips
designated as ½ day are
usually over by noon.
- It
is a good idea to pack a lunch and
drink for any trips designated ¾ or full day.
- In
inclement weather:
- Field
trips may be canceled due to heavy rain or snow. The trip leader
will call you if you have indicated you will attend.
- Bird
counts are held rain or shine.
- Meetings
may be canceled because of severe weather and dangerous driving
conditions; such cancellations (meetings only, not field trips)
will be announced via e-mail.
- Look
for the
 symbol for
recent additions to the
calendar.
- For
general trip information,
to suggest a destination, or to volunteer as a trip leader, contact
Field Trip Chair Sean McCandless by sending e-mail to seanmccandless1@comcast.net
- For
more events, check the statewide
MOS calendar at http://www.mdbirds.org/activities/actindex.html
- Most
importantly, try to attend as
many trips and meetings as you can and Have Fun!
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